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Diesel for dummy's
- Thread starter John
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MikeXM
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Well, for a start, you get to be in the cool gang 
But seriously, you are trading the easy maintenance of gas for diesel torque. That is mostly it.
I switched from gas to diesel a few months ago so here's a few points that comes to mind:
Maintenance is not that bad either. Oil and filter changes are more expensive but occurs far less often so its kinda a wash.
You must add fuel additives to every fill-up to protect the fuel pump.
Diesel needs a warm up as soon as its get a little chilly where gas is just start and go.
Turbo lag is a thing. Gas react like a sport car in comparison. On a diesel, when you want to pass, you need to be pre-emptive. Like you press the pedal, go to your notary, leave the boost on your will and maybe two generations after you die will get the boost you wanted.
Diesel engine sounds like a real truck. It's addictive.
Exhaust brake is probably my preferred thing I gained from gas. It's not a gimmick, it's worth it. I use it all the time.
And torque... Lots of torque... And again more torque.
So basically towing is just so much fun with a diesel.
But seriously, you are trading the easy maintenance of gas for diesel torque. That is mostly it.
I switched from gas to diesel a few months ago so here's a few points that comes to mind:
Maintenance is not that bad either. Oil and filter changes are more expensive but occurs far less often so its kinda a wash.
You must add fuel additives to every fill-up to protect the fuel pump.
Diesel needs a warm up as soon as its get a little chilly where gas is just start and go.
Turbo lag is a thing. Gas react like a sport car in comparison. On a diesel, when you want to pass, you need to be pre-emptive. Like you press the pedal, go to your notary, leave the boost on your will and maybe two generations after you die will get the boost you wanted.
Diesel engine sounds like a real truck. It's addictive.
Exhaust brake is probably my preferred thing I gained from gas. It's not a gimmick, it's worth it. I use it all the time.
And torque... Lots of torque... And again more torque.
So basically towing is just so much fun with a diesel.
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Diesel trucks will last forever if you take care of them. The book requires you to change your oil and fuel filters at least by every 15,000 miles. This is a must do, don't go over 15k.. diesels are very finicky about there fluid and air cleanliness. Use a very good fuel additive. Keep your air filter clean. Probably the biggest change that you will have to take in is the regen system. Its a very complex thing that we all think we know everything about if you listen to us , but don't be intimidated by it, just take it in stride and continue to learn. Its basically a bunch of sensors, igniters and filters that monitor your exhaust and when it starts to get a bit gunked up , it will ignite burners get to well over a 1000+ degrees to cleanly burn off all that gunk. When it's clean it shuts off until it needs it again. You should never have to do anything if it stays working properly. The def fluid helps the whole burn process. Absolutely never ever run out of def fluid, ever. It will cause lots of problems and you won't be able to go over 5mph and will cause costly damage eventually down the rd. dont put the def in your fuel tank fill hole, the truck will precisely mix it for you. If you ever have a light come on that said its doing a regen, it's important to drive the vehicle at hwy speeds untill light Goes out, this could take anywhere between 5 minutes to an hour. You will get used to it, i drive my big duelly to go to Wallys and burger king and around towns mostly but at least once every 2 wks we make sure that we have driven some interstrate miles and it will work just fine. Don't ignore any warning lights like the old check engine light that used to come on, thers lots of things monitoring the whole truck and one thing not functioning can affect several things, look up the warning in your book, ask one of us, call your dealer. Like i said, a bit to learn but it won't take you long and you'll know it all like we do. Ram & Cummins make the best known trucks on planet earth, you are going to love these new trucks. Most folks that go diesel don't go back to the old gasser, but there are a hand few out there, especially with what the hemi can do. Kick back, relax, look like a bad mother, and enjoy, they are sweet.
SBookless
Member
I have had mine for almost a year getting near 45k miles. I have changed the oil & filter, fuel filters and air filter 3 times now. I add Hot Shots Secret additives at almost every fill up and I top off my DEF tank when the gauge reads 1/2. The DEF jug usually gets it to right at the full mark. I drive 80% of my miles on the highway and pull trailers weekly, I never worry about regen with that much time at speeds about 65 MPH. I will never not own a diesel truck from now on.
Superflylover
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I appreciate you throwing that out there. I picked up my first diesel yesterday and am just as ignorant on all those points. Glad I found this forum, learned Three things in the past 5 minutes. Is Hot Shots the go to fuel additive or am I about to launch a huge debate with that question? Thanks. Feel free to direct me elsewaher in the foru, this is my first stop and didn’t even know about needing to do that.
MikeXM
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There are several products out there. But HSS's EDT or LX4 and Opti-lube XPD are probably the top choices. I don't think you can go wrong with any of those.
A thread with lots of information:
CP4 Changes - additives discussion
I have seen better results with xdp over edt. That would be the old style pump. Below is the new style. With the single dimple marking and other dimples below. The designation is the single larger dimple in the circled location. That is the only way to tell is if that single dimple is there the...
hdrams.com
Wise choice young grasshopper. Now learn all you can about regen
Alessandro
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New diesel owner here, just got my 3500.
Very good pointers here, reading a lot a learning, keep it coming guys
Very good pointers here, reading a lot a learning, keep it coming guys
welcome to the diesel brotha & sista club. Lots to learn, lots to laugh at, and always room for ( almost
) another opinion. Let her rip
So for many years I lived in England, I had diesel family car, a diesel small van and a diesel sports car, which was amazingly fast off the line and at high end whilst still getting me over 40mpg. All I will add is these all got me high milage,, the first two went over 200k miles and I never had issues. The world then went crazy over emissions and not saying that is bad but it make owning diesel more complicated than it needs to be. My choice for going to diesel again last year was how they drive and perform, the maintenance is irrelevant to me as everything needs to be looked after. I still find it amusing when people that were behind me change lanes to get next to me at lights and then I leave them behind